January 25, 2012Nanuet, NY: Met.
Hilarion awarded the Synodal Order of the Sign 1st Class, to the
Abbess of the Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo"

On
Saturday the 14th and Sunday the 15th of January, in the feast of
the Repose and Second Finding of the Relics of St. Seraphim of
Sarov, His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New
York, carried out an archpastoral visit to
Holy Dormition Convent "Novo-Diveevo." On Saturday evening, His
Eminence served the All-Night Vigil in the monastery’s main church.

The following morning, the First Hierarch
celebrated the Divine Liturgy, co-served by the monastery’s senior
cleric, Archpriest Alexander Fedorowski, Archpriest Alexander
Donchenko (rector of St. Nicholas Church in Poughkeepsie, NY), and
Protodeacon Sergei Arlievsky (monastery cleric). Monastery cleric
Archpriest Gleb Wleskoff also prayed in church. Upon completion of
the Liturgy, a moleben was served to St. Seraphim, Worderworker of
Sarov.

Abbess Irene, the convent's rectress, was
awarded the Synodal Order of the Sign, 1st class, for her many years of
monastic labors. In February of this year, Mother Irene will turn
90; her path in the monastic life began 75 years ago, while she was
still in Harbin. This year will also mark the 20th anniversary of
her abbacy. The Metropolitan warmly congratulated the Mother Abbess,
thanking her for her dedicated service to Christ’s Holy Church.

After the service, a festal luncheon was
held in the parish hall for the guests.

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